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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Defector

Enter Our Raffle To Win A Visit And Home-Cooked Meal From Drew Magary

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tip jar sweepstakes

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Ray Ratto

Jawad El Yamiq kisses the head of Portugal defender Pepe after he missed a header in the waning minutes of Morocco's World Cup quarterfinal win.

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Soccer

Kiss Kiss, Bye Bye

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Samer Kalaf

Grant Wahl holds a microphone while covering an international friendly.

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Grant Wahl Dies In Qatar After Collapsing During World Cup Match

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Luis Paez-Pumar

09 December 2022, Qatar, Lusail: Soccer, World Cup, Netherlands - Argentina, final round, quarterfinal, Lusail Stadium, Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez cheers with teammates after winning the penalty shootout.

World Cup 2022 – Netherlands – Argentina

Emi Martínez Saved Argentina From Itself

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Billy Haisley

Croatia's goalkeeper #01 Dominik Livakovic deflects a shot from Brazil's forward #21 Rodrygo during a penalty shootout during the Qatar 2022 World Cup quarter-final football match between Croatia and Brazil at Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha, on December 9, 2022.

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Internationals

Croatia Did The Impossible By Beating The Inevitable

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Albert Burneko

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Qatar’s World Cup CEO Scolds Reporters For Noticing That Another Worker Died

Cristiano Ronaldo looking pissy in his yellow substitute's vest

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Portugal Romped While Ronaldo Watched

Achraf Hakimi of Morocco celebrates after the team's victory in the penalty shoot out during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between Morocco and Spain at Education City Stadium on December 06, 2022 in Al Rayyan, Qatar.

Morocco v Spain: Round of 16 – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Spain Beat Itself Again

Cameroonian Football Federation President Samuel Eto'o during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group G match between Cameroon and Serbia at Al Janoub Stadium on November 28, 2022 in Al Wakrah, Qatar.

Cameroon v Serbia: Group G – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Samuel Eto’o Kicked A Guy In The Face At The World Cup

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Tom Ley

Brazil v South Korea: Round of 16 – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Brazil Finally Started Dancing

Japan v Croatia: Round of 16 – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Japan Finally Plays A Good Game And Loses Anyway

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Chris Thompson

Kylian Mbappé holds up two fingers to signify two goals scored.

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Kylian Mbappé Scores Two Lovely Goals As France Puts Away Poland

Christian Pulisic #10 of the United States reacts at the final whistle after a FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between Netherlands and USMNT at Khalifa International Stadium on December 3, 2022 in Al Rayyan, Qatar. He's dejected with his head in shirt and the USMNT just got a thorough drubbing.

Sad Americans

To Nobody’s Surprise, The Americans Deliver No Surprises

Japanese players celebrate their Group E win over Spain

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Japan Is The Best Kind Of World Cup Killer

France's forward #10 Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group D football match between France and Denmark at Stadium 974 in Doha on November 26, 2022.

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Underexplained Lists

The 16 Teams Left In The World Cup, Ranked By Coolness

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Patrick Redford

AL RAYYAN, QATAR - DECEMBER 02: Players of Korea celebrate during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group H match between Korea Republic and Portugal at Education City Stadium on December 02, 2022 in Al Rayyan, Qatar. (Photo by Amin Mohammad Jamali/Getty Images)

Korea Republic v Portugal: Group H – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

South Korea’s Stunning World Cup Moment Is As Good As It Gets

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David Roth

Christian Pulisic of the US Men's National Team prepares to take a corner kick in the team's win against Iran in the 2022 World Cup.

IR Iran v USA: Group B – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Podcasts

The Absolute State Of The Nation, With Tom Ley

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Laura Wagner

Belgium's assistant coach Thierry Henry consoles Belgium's Romelu Lukaku.

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No One Is Sadder Than Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku

Iran v USA: Group B – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Christian Pulisic’s Goal Not As Ballsy As It First Appeared

Saudi coaches Herve Renard and Mohammed Ameen give a motivational halftime speech during the team's game against Argentina.

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Yelling In Arabic Has Its Merits

Julian Alvarez of Argentina celebrates with Enzo Fernandez after scoring their team's second goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Poland and Argentina at Stadium 974 on November 30, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.

Poland v Argentina: Group C – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Argentina’s Young Stars Have Arrived

Poland Advances To Knockout Stage By Playing Jabroni Soccer

A dejected Joachim Andersen of Denmark at full time after being knocked out the FIFA World Cup in the group stages during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group D match between Australia and Denmark at Al Janoub Stadium on November 30, 2022 in Al Wakrah, Qatar

Australia v Denmark: Group D – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Denmark Was Something Rotten

DOHA, QATAR - NOVEMBER 29: Sergino Dest of USA controls the ball during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B match between IR Iran and USA at Al Thumama Stadium on November 29, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Matteo Ciambelli/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

Why Not U.S.?

USA's forward #10 Christian Pulisic scores his team's first goal past Iran's goalkeeper #01 Alireza Beiranvand during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group B football match between Iran and USA at the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha on November 29, 2022.